Selected Handgun Detail

Manufacturer
	Glock Ges.m.b.H. More Info

About the Gun

One of the first successful polymer framed designs, Glock handguns are common sidearms among law enforcement agencies and military organizations around the world. Although a striker-fired pistol, the Glock employs a single-action (SA) trigger, meaning that the trigger does not cock the gun, but only releases the striker when pulled. Cocking of the striker is performed by the retracting slide. Glock pistols have no manual safeties. The trigger is the only operating element. All three internal pistol safeties are deactivated when the unique single-action trigger is pulled, and automatically activated when it is released. For more information on the Glock design, please refer to the Glock pistol animation in our Basics section.

Production

Produced from 1988 through 1997.

Market value

MSRP reached $500 during production. Used market vale ranges $700–$1,000 for well-preserved examples.

Cartridge Specifications
Cartridge:	9 mm Luger
Alias:	9 mm Parabellum
More Info

Analysis

The first three generations of the Glock 19 maintain strong compatibility in major components such as slides, barrels, recoil springs, and most internal parts, allowing interchangeability within the pre-Gen4 group while presenting minor handling differences through grip texture and frame modifications. The polygonal rifling in the barrel across these generations supports reliable function with diverse ammunition loads and contributes to consistent practical accuracy at typical defensive and range distances. Gen1 examples remain extremely scarce—limited to a small number of early production or transitional pieces—and attract significant collector interest due to their rarity and historical position in the model's introduction, though day-to-day functional performance aligns closely with later generations without notable reliability variances in standard conditions. Gen2 models offer a balanced option with enhanced grip checkering on the front and back straps compared to Gen1, while avoiding the added contours of Gen3, which leads some users to prefer its simpler, flatter front strap configuration for certain hand sizes or shooting styles. Gen3 additions, including the accessory rail and finger grooves with thumb rests, increased options for mounting devices and adjusted ergonomics, factors that supported its extended production run and continued presence in the used handgun market. Overall, these variants perform reliably in their factory setups, with secondary market preferences driven primarily by condition, originality, specific serial prefixes in some cases, and personal fit preferences rather than measurable differences in core mechanical performance or durability among the three generations.